Tucking-guide for sewing-machines.



No. 645,32l. Patented Mar. l3, I900.

A. LAUBSCHER. TUGKlN-G GUIDE FOR SEWING MACHINES,

(Application filed July 14, 1899.)

(No Model.)

Wlfnesses Inventor a 7 %,-M Afiornqy ing is a specification.

tion of the work. Fig. 2 shows same with the UNITED STATES PATENT I Orrrcn.

ALEXANDER LAUBSCHER, OF BRIDGEPORT, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR TO THE WHEELER & WILSON MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF SAME PLACE.

TUCKlNG-GUIDE FOR SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 645,321, dated March 13, 1900.

Application filed July 14, 1899. Serial No. 723,878. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that LALEXANDER LAUBSCHER, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Bridgeport, in the county of Fairfield and State of Connecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Tuck-Folders for Sewing-Machines, of which the follow- The object of my invention is to produce a tuck-folder for use in connection with sewingmachines which will permit of the ready introduction and removal of the fabric for successive seams, the guiding of the fabric with but slight attention from the operator, and the ready adjustment for different widths of tucks and spaces or equidistant clusters of the same.

In the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification, my invention is shown in Figures 1 and 2 as applied to a sewing-machine of the Wheeler & Wilson pattern, only so much of the latter being shown, however, as will suffice to illustrate the application of my invention thereto.

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of my invention with the space-gage raised for the introducspace-gage depressed and the partially-sewed fabric in position as in use; and Fig. 3, a sectional elevation of the space-gage bracket F and its attached parts somewhat enlarged, the better to show their construction.

Asa main support for my device I construct a bracket (shaped as shown atA) whose base is immovably secured by means of screws or otherwise to the bed-plate B of the sewingmachine, and through the overhanging neck of same a hole is made longitudinally for the introduction of the gage-supporting rod C, which is immovably secured therein. To the outer or left-hand end of the rod C is securely attached a depending bracket D, and to the lower end of the latter is secured the tuck-gage E. The bracket D is provided at its lower end with a guideway to receive the slotted outer end or shank of the tuck-gage E and a thumb-screw e, which holds the latter in position. The shank of the tuck-gage E is slotted for the passage of the thumbscrew e and carries within this slot an adjustable clamp e to serve as a stop, which may be so set as to limit the movement of the tuck-gage E, for purposes hereinafter described. The rear or right-hand end of the rod C is provided with a groove 0 and has mounted upon it two sliding collars c and 0 for purposes hereinafter described.

Sliding freely upon the rear end of the red 0 between the stops 0 and c is mounted the space-gage bracket, as seen at F, the latter being provided with a screw f, (bearing a check-nut,) whose point enters the groove 0 in the rod C to prevent the bracket from turning, and with a thumb-screw G, by means of which it may be clamped upon the rod C in the desired position.

Through a hole made longitudinally in the lower branch of the bracket F is passed a short shaft, carrying upon its outer end an arm having at its forward end a blade, all as shown in Fig. 1, which parts, as they constitute but one member, I will designate as the space-gage J. The outer ends of both the space-gage J and the tuck-gage E are suitably shaped for and stand in proper relation to the needle of the sewing-machine to serve as gages or guides for the fabric, as their names would imply. The shaft of the spacegage J serves as a pivot on which it turns when lifted or depressed, as before referred to. To the bracket F is also attached a flat spring K, whose lower end presses upon a flattened spot within a groove in the shaft of the space-gage J, as best shown in Fig. 3. When in working position, the lower edge only of the flattened spot is pressed upon by the spring K, and this point of contact being below the axis of the shaft the pressure of the spring tends to so revolve the shaft as to cause the front end of the space-gage to press downward upon the fabric, as hereinafter more fully explained; but when the front end of the space-gage is lifted for the insertion or removal of the work the shaft is so turned that the spring bears upon a portion of its surface which is concentric with its axis, and the resulting friction retains the gage in elevated position, as seen in Fig. 1.

Into the bracket F above the shaft of the space-gage, with its point in contact with the spring K, I insert the thumb-screw L, by the turning of which to regulate the pressure of the spring K uponthe shaft and the resulting downward pressure of the space-gage upon the fabric as occasion requires.

Near the outer end of the space-gage J, I attach to the same an auxiliary guide N by means of the adjusting thumb-screw O, for purposes hereinafter described.

In the operation of my device the width of tuck desired is controlled by the distance which the forward end or blade (if it may be so termed) of the tuck-gage E is set to the right of the needle of the sewing-machine, and being properly set the clamp e in the shank of the tuck-gage E is then moved forward against the thumb-screw e and there firmly fastened by means of its set-screw in order that when the guide is thereafter withdrawn it may be returned to exactly the same position. The space between the tucks is controlled by the distance at which the forward or blade end of the space-gage J is set to'the left of the needle, and being set as desired the bracket F is fastened by means of the thumb-screw G to retain the gage in that position.

The operation of my invention is as follows: The cloth is passed between the bedplate of the sewing-machine and the blade of the tuck-gage E and turned back over the guiding edge of the latter, and the space-gage J is brought down upon the fabric. To guide the work, the cloth is kept smoothly spread, and for the first seam its edge or the hem of the garment and thereafter each successive line of stitches is kept in line with the guiding edge of the space-gage J, as seen in Fig. 2. When so placed, the last-made tuck may be turned inward to overlap the space-gage J (as is preferable with extremely-narrow tucks) or outward, as seen in Fig. 2; but in either case the auxiliary guide N will stroke it down and hold it in position. When in use, there is but one ply of cloth between the two gages, while the stitched edge of the tuck, which is two plies thicker, presents itself to the guiding edge of the space-gage J, and if the downward pressure of the latter be properly regulated by means of the thumb-screw L the increased thickness serves as a sufficient barrier against the edge of the gage to render the fabric so nearly self-guiding as to require little attention from the operator.

In the now common practice of tucking skirts, pillow-cases, and the like after side seams have been sewed it will be seen that the starting end of each seam will come around and strike the tuck-gage E before the circuit is completed. In that case the thumb-screw e is loosened and the gage E drawn back to allow the completion of the stitching and returned to first position, as accurately governed by the stop e, before starting the next seam.

In the formation of tucks in clusters much difficulty has been experienced in changing the space-gage (whatever its construction) from the position required for space between the tucks to that desired for space between the clusters, and vice versa, as that operation must be repeated after each successive cluster. To obviate this difficulty, after locating the bracket F upon the rod O to hold the space-gage in position to give correct space between the tucks I set the stop 0 against the same and the stop 0 on the opposite side as far from the same as it is desired to have the space between the clusters, all as shown in Fig. 2, and after the first cluster the bracket F, carrying the space-gage J, is set forward against the stop 0 for the first tuck of the next cluster, after making which the bracket F is returned to first position.

Though unavoidably necessary after each successive cluster, it will be seen that with this construction the change can be made with ease and quickness and yet the established width of spacing be maintained with the utmost accuracy.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a tuck-folder for sewing-machines, the combination of the adjustable tnck-gage, a space-gage operatively mounted between separately-adjustable stops, and means for supporting said I gages in proper position whereby both individual tucks and clusters of tucks may be separately spaced without readjustment, substantially as set forth.

2. In a'tuck-folder for sewing-machines, the combination of the adjustable tuck-gage, a space-gage operatively mounted between independently-adj ustable stops whereby both individual tucks and clusters of tucks may be separately spaced without readjustment, a set-screw for securing said gage as against displacement, and means for supporting said gages in proper position, substantially as set forth.

3. In a tuck-folder for sewing-machines, the combination of the adjustable tuck-gage, a space-gage operatively mounted between independently-adjustable stops and carrying an auxiliary resilient guide adapted to bear upon the surface of the fabric, and means for properly supporting said gage, substantially as set forth.

4. In a tuck-folder for sewing-machines, the combination of a rod carrying at one end an adjustable tuck-gage, a space-gage mounted on the opposite end of said rod between independently-adj ustable stops whereby both individual tucks and clusters of tucks may be separately spaced without readjustment, and means for supporting said rod in proper position, substantially as set forth.

5. In a tuck-folder for sewing-machines, the combination of a rod carrying at one end an adjustable tuck-gage, a bracket or slide mounted on the opposite end of said rod be tween independently-adjustable stops for the obstructed feeding of the fabric, a set-screw for securing said tuck-gage in its adjusted position, and means for supporting said gages in proper position, substantially as set forth.

Signed at-Bridgeport, in the county of Fairfieid and State of Connecticut, this 15th day purpose specified, the space-gage pivotally connected to said slide and held in normal position upon the fabric by a spring, and means for supporting said gage-carrying rod in proper position, substantially as set forth. 1

6. In a tuck-folder for sewing-machines,

the combination of a space-gage operatively of May, A. D. 1899.

ALEXANDER LAUBSCHER.

Vitnesses:

A. STEWARD, O. N. WORTHEN.

mounted between independently-adjustable stops, the tuck-gage provided with an adj ustable stop whereby said gage may be returned to a predetermined adjusted position after having been withdrawn to permit of the un- 

